Holstein pips Jersey to Royal Welsh dairy championship

The rain drenched cattle judging rings were the scene for today’s interbreed dairy judging, with stewards resisting the temptation to move classes onto hard standing.

With just four breed champions competing for top honours, judge Tom Kelly, Co Louth, Eire had no trouble picking out his leader in the form of the Holstein champion from Seaton Farms, Shropshire and the Holgate family, Yorkshire.

Their winner was Allian Champion Isis, bred by the Holgates and currently giving 50 litres a day in her second lactation. Having given 13,100 litres in her first lactation, Isis is due to calve again in February having held to service just 50 days into this lactation. She was flushed to Picston Shottle as a heifer and the partners already have a Shottle yearling heifer on the ground from her.

In reserve spot was the Jersey champion, Windyridge Astronomers Radience, from Philip Manning,

Radience, also a second calver gave 6500 litres last time and is now giving 25 litres a day seven months into this lactation. She is kept in a herd of just 14 Jerseys which run alongside Mr Mannings 200 black and whites at home at Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

The same result was repeated in the dairy interbreed pairs competition, with the Holsteins once again beating the Jerseys into second spot.

Interbreed Dairy Results
Interbreed Seaton Farms and J D and J A Holgate’s Holstein cow Allian Champion Isis; res, P Manning’s Jersey cow Windyridge Astronomers Radience.
Interbreed Pairs Holstein; res, Jersey.
Interbreed team of five Holstein; res, Jersey.